Consumptive News Feed Curation on Social Media: A Moderated Mediation Model of News Interest, Affordance Utilization, and Friending

Authors

  • Yan Su School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University
  • Xizhu Xiao School of Journalism and Communication, Qingdao University
  • Porismita Borah Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
  • Xin Hong School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University
  • Chang Sun School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University

Keywords:

consumptive news feed curation, news interest, affordance, friending, media locus of control, need for cognition

Abstract

This study analyzed a survey sample from China and investigated how (1) news interest, (2) affordance utilization, and (3) friending were associated with consumptive news feed curation (CNFC), a practice of selective exposure, as well as the ways in which these associations were mediated and moderated by psychological factors. Findings showed that all 3 factors were positively associated with CNFC. Media locus of control (MLOC), namely, individuals’ beliefs in their ability to control their information environment, was found to be a positive mediator. Namely, the three independent variables led to greater MLOC before facilitating CNFC. Need for cognition (NFC) was a moderator. That is, the main associations became weaker among those with higher NFC, suggesting that people with a stronger preference for analytical and logical information processing were less likely to curate for consumptive purposes. Moderating effect of NFC was also found on the indirect effects of news interest and affordance utilization on CNFC.

Author Biographies

Yan Su, School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University

Yan Su, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University. His research orbits emerging communication technology in the context of health and politics.

Xizhu Xiao, School of Journalism and Communication, Qingdao University

Xizhu Xiao, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Qingdao University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of health communication, strategic communication, and new media.

Porismita Borah, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University

Porismita Borah, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University. Her research focuses on the interplay of emerging technology, politics, and health.

Xin Hong, School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University

Xin Hong is a postgraduate student in the School of Journalism & Communication at Peking University. Her research interests are emerging media technology and health communication.

Chang Sun, School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University

Chang Sun is a postgraduate student in the School of Journalism & Communication at Peking University. Her research interests are health communication among teenagers and health communication in public health emergencies.

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Published

2022-08-13

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Section

Articles